Quiet before the holiday (123/180)

R attended one of his classes at MAHC.  Unfortunately D was sick which meant that the rest of us did not attend.

W attended his Teen Program classes.

All the kids attended their religious education classes.

W, R and D worked with LOF.  J worked with Explode the Code.

W and R read independently and D practiced reading.

I read to them:


The Snowman by Raymond Briggs


The Christmas Snowman by Diane Sherman


My First Chanukah by Tomie dePaola

This week included 4 days of instruction.

J turns 5! And it snows. (119/180)

R and W went to the dentist and had no new cavities per se.

All the kids went to their MAHC classes.  This is a new session so they had new classes.  J is taking the 4s/5s class.  D is taking Warrior Women, Art Through the Ages, and Winter Crafts.  R is taking Capture the Flag, Card Tricks, and Lego Mini Figure Customization.  W is taking Capture the Flag, Programming in Python, and Lego Mini Figure Customization.

W's new Teen Program classes are Logical Thinking and Countries of the World.

J celebrated her 5th birthday!  And it SNOWED!

All the kids attended their religious education classes.

W, R, and D worked with LOF.  J worked with Explode the Code.  W and R read indpendently.  D practiced reading.

I read to them:

Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert


The Sun Is My Favorite Star by Frank Asch


Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Barbara Shook Hazen


Winter Story by Jill Barklem


Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy by Carl R. Sams II


Santa's Surprise Book by Joan Potter Elwart


Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale by Martin Waddell

This week included 6 days of instruction.

Home again, home again (113/180)

We went for more hikes:

And some playgrounds:

Then we drove back to our home.

All the kids attended their religious education classes.

W and R read independently.

We are celebrating Advent by reading holiday books:


Muhammad by Demi


Clifford's Christmas by Norman Bridwell


This week included 4 days of instruction.

Thanksgiving Trip (109/180)

We drove to Austin, Texas to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with family.  On the way we listened to a lot of podcasts, some with actual educational value ...

J baked with her cousin:

We all went to The Thinkery, a sort of science/maker museum/play space.  The water room was the biggest hit with the widest range of ages:

The kids all experimented with their uncle's virtual reality setup:

D (and to some extent J) did a lot of sewing, enjoying using her grandmother's classic Singer sewing machine.

R did some archery.

We went for a hike:

And D and J went to an Anglican worship service and made Advent wreaths afterwards:

This week included 5 days of instruction.

Yellow Fever (104/180)

R played soccer!

All the kids attended their MAHC classes.  W attended his Teen Program classes.

W played D and D.

We went to a Yellow Fever interactive workshop at the Pennsylvania Historical Society.

All the kids attended their religious education classes.

W, R, and D worked with LOF.

R completed Life of Fred Kidneys by Stanley F. Schmidt

W and R read independently.  D practiced reading.  J worked with Explode the Code.


The Little Bear Treasury: Little Bear/ Little Bear's Friend/ Little Bear's Visit by Else Holmelund Minarik


Making Tracks by Stephen Savage


The Little Lamb by Judy Dunn


Having a Friend by Betty Miles

This week included 7 days of instruction.

In which we have a rare, ordinary week (97/180)

All the kids attended their MAHC classes.

W played D and D several times and attended his Thursday Teen Program classes.

R played soccer.

All the kids attended their religious education classes.

W, R and D worked with LOF.  J worked with Explode the Code.  R and D practiced reading.  W read independently:
Opal by Jane Boulton



I read to them:  Angels, Angels, Angels by Andy Warhol
Waiting for Baby by Harriet Ziefert


One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss


Old Turtle [With CD] by Douglas Wood


Press Here by Hervé Tullet

This week included 7 days of instruction.

Halloween (90/180)

R had soccer practice and a game.

The boys both worked hard on assembling a new couch (here's the finished product:

All the kids attended their MAHC classes.

And then it was Halloween!  We traded kids around and W and R went trick or treating with friends in a different neighborhood, while we took D and J's friends trick or treating with us.

W attended his Teen program.

He played D and D.

R, D and J attended their religious education classes.

W, R and D worked with LOF.  J worked with Explode the Code.  

W read independently.  R read (alternately with me) 

Minecraft: Combat Handbook by Stephanie Milton

D practiced reading.

I read to the girls:

Manners by Aliki



Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet Ahlberg



Anno's Math Games III by Mitsumasa Anno

This week included 7 days of instruction.